Citizens of the City of Federal Way have voted to change our city government structure from a council-manager form to a council-mayor form of government. We now have a crop of four eager faces vying for the new strong mayor position intended to replace the professional city manager formerly hired by the council. The job pays over $100,000 as an annual salary. The candidates are Mike Park, Skip Priest, Jim Ferrell and Linda Kochmar. Both Linda Kochmar and Mike Park have stated that they will hire a professional manager if they are elected.

We have at least two reported positions for Skip Priest. Political columnist Bob Roegner says that Priest intends to hire a professional manager if elected; while The Mirror reports that he will not be hiring a manager. Jim Ferrell is the only candidate who apparently clearly asserts that he will manage the city if elected. The point being that we created the strong mayor system to replace the professional manager. Why should we hire a so-called strong mayor who then turns around and hires a professional manager? The mayor then becomes a rubber stamp for a professional manager and the council loses control over the manager.

We are simply rearranging the chairs at the table and adding an additional salaried position to an already strained city budget that faces a significant deficit. Why should we have to pay for a professional manager when we have elected and effectively hired a new mayor? The intent of the mayor position is that they should run the city. If they are not capable of doing the job, then they have no business running for the position.

A mayor who cannot run the city and manage as a CEO is little more than a paid figurehead. The election becomes simply a popularity contest resulting in a significant waste of taxpayer money. As I read it, some of the candidates would like to take the old position of unpaid mayor; add a few minor enhancements; preside over council meetings; while taking home a six-figure salary and eventual pension.

David Koenig, Federal Way